Talking Stick - March/April 2014 - 9

PD for Free:
Blog It Out

Blogs have become popular in higher education, particularly within
student affairs. Reading practitioners' blogs is a great way to stay
informed of the current trends and hot topics in the field and
discover a new perspective on an issue. Reading your colleagues'
thoughts on contemporary issues is a great starting point for
further dialogue. Taking it one step further by managing your own
blog allows you to enhance your critical-thinking skills and further
develop professional writing skills. Julie Payne-Kirchmeier, assistant
vice president for student auxiliary services at Northwestern
University in Evanston, Illinois, and also a blogger, shares her
thoughts on utilizing blogs as a tool for professional development.
In terms of how blogging contributes to her professional
development, Payne-Kirchmeier notes that managing her own
blog has been fascinating. "I'm not a 'once a week' or 'once a day'
blogger. However, there are times when something strikes a chord
with me - and I'll pursue it via a blog post - usually around issues
of feminism. I've also enjoyed bringing others into the blogosphere,
via Women in Student Affairs (WISA) or by having people guestpost on my blog. It has really been a great experience. I have learned
a lot about myself and, more specifically, about both my style of
writing and about my professional passions from writing blog
posts."
Payne-Kirchmeier shares this advice with those considering
starting their own blog: "Think about how you want to use this
medium. There are some who will tell you that you have to be
regular with your blog posts (daily, weekly, bi-weekly, etc.). I don't
buy into that. The blog is your own tool - your own medium
through which you express your thoughts and opinions. My
goal with a blog is not to attract a zillion followers. I'm far more
concerned about expressing my thoughts clearly, challenging
myself to reflect on an issue, and hopefully adding value to the
conversation. This is a far more powerful outcome." She also
suggests connecting your blog to a passion. "If you get into this to
just advance your career, or to 'see and be seen,' you really shouldn't
do it. It will come across as being inauthentic. Second, commit to it
in your own way. Make sure it's yours - and not what someone else
tells you it should be. This is your space - and use it as your own.
Remember, your voice has value, and your opinions matter, and this
is the space in which you can express these things. However, a word
of caution: Make sure you remember that whatever you post out
there will always be associated with your personal and professional
brand, so be smart about it, too."
You can follow Payne-Kirchmeier's blog at http://doctorjpk.com/.

Fun Facts
The University of New Hampshire
hosts a solarfest on Earth Day,
which is an 11-hour music festival
that is run purely on solar-powered
energy.

McDaniel College in Westminster,
Maryland, sponsors the Recycling Art
Show, an annual celebration of Earth Day.
Students submit artwork made out of
recycled or recyclable materials.

Ithaca College in New York
has an annual Earth Day
celebration that allows
students to paint pots and
bring home plants and
features a trash-sorting
competition.

St. Cloud University
in Minnesota holds
an annual Earth Day
Run that attracts
more than 4,500
runners. The event
supports communityand student-based
programs.

Kate McGartland-Kinsella
Student Development Officer, University of Toronto Mississauga
[Ed. Note: PD for Free is a recurring column that explores professional
development opportunities for campus housing professionals at little or no
cost. If you have ideas or success stories to share, please contact the author
at kate.kinsella@utoronto.ca or on Twitter at @KateMcGK.]
March + april 2014

http://www.doctorjpk.com/

Talking Stick - March/April 2014

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Talking Stick - March/April 2014